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)<S    EVERYMAN AND MEDIEVAL MIRACLE PLAYS

Drowncd in sin, they know mc not for their God;

In worldly riclies is all their mind,

They fcar not ray righteousness, the sharp rod.

My law that I showed, when I for them died,

30 They forget clean, and shedding of my blood red;

I hangcd between two, it cannot be denied;

To get them life I suffercd to be dead;

I hcaled their feet, with thorns hurt was my head.

I could do no morę than I did, truły;

35 And now I see the people do clean forsake me:

They use the seven deadly sins damnable,

As pride, covetise, wrath, and lechery    covetousncss

Now in the world be madę commendablc;

And thus they leave of angels the hcavenly company.

40 Every man liveth so after his own pleasurc,

And yet of their life they be nothing surę:

I sec the morę that I them forbear The worse they be from year to year.

All that liveth appaireth fast;    degenerates

4 5 Therefore I will, in all the hastę,

Have a reckoning of every man’s person;

For, and I łeave the people thus alone    ;/

In their life and wicked tcmpests,    tumults

Vcrily they will become much worse than beasts;

50 For now one would by envy another up eat;

Charity they do all clean forget.

I lioped well that every man

In my glory should make his mansion,

And thereto I had them all elect;

55 But now I see, like traitors deject,    abject

They thank me not for the pleasure that I to them Jor meant,

Nor yet for their being that I them have lent.

I prolfercd the people great multitude of inercy,

And few there be that asketh it heartily.    earnestly

bo They be so cumbcred with worldly riches That needs on them I must do justice,

On cvery man living without fear.

Where art thou, Dcath, thou mighty mcssenger?

32 I consentcd to die.

41 Alid yet their livcs are by no mcans secure.

[Enter Dcath]

Dcath. Almighty God, I am liere at your will,

65 Your commandment to fulfil.

God. Go thou to Everyman,

And show him, in my name,

A pilgrimage he must on him take,

Which he in no wise may escape;

70 And that he bring with him a surę reckoning

Without delay or any tarrying. [God withdratos.

Death. Lord, I will in the world go run overall, eucrytohcre And cruelly outsearch both grcat and smali;

Every man will I beset that liveth beastly 75 Out of God’s laws, and dreadeth not folly.

He that loveth riches I will strike with my dart,

His sight to blind, and from heaven to depart—    separate

Except that alms be his good friend—

In heli for to dwell, world without end.

80 Lo, yondcr I see Everyman walking.

Fuli little he thinkcth on my coming;

His mind is on fleshly lusts and his trcasurc,

And great pain it shall cause him to endure Before the Lord, Heaven King.

[Enter Everyman]

85 Everyman, stand still! Whither art thou goinj Thus gaiły? Hast thou thy Maker forget?

Everyman. Why askest thou ?

Wouldest thou wit?    know

Death. Yca, sir; I will show you:

90 In great hastę I am sent to thee

From God out of his majesty.    ,

Everyman. What, sent to me ?

Dcath. Yea, certainly.

Though thou have forget him here,

95 He thinketh on thee in the heavenly sphere,

As, ere we depart, thou shalt know.

Everyman. What desireth God of me?